Real Madrid reveals look of new Santiago Bernabeu

Spanish soccer side Real Madrid FC has released a new video providing a glimpse of the look and features of its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium renovation, which will dramatically overhaul the current stadium and cost in the region of €525m (US$618m).

Plans for remodeling the 81,000-seater stadium were released four years ago but had stalled. Now, following the green light given by board members to put the club into US$618m of debt to fund it, the club has released a new video that shows in computer generated detail the new façade – which will be composed of steel bands that can be illuminated and project video images to those outside – and how the club plans to install the new retractable roof, which will fully enclose the stadium when shut.

Inside the bowl it is understood there will be no increase in seating capacity but there will be a brand-new 360° video board that will encircle the roof area, akin to the Halo at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The fly-through also offers the chance to see a number of new features including retail spaces, a panoramic deck with views over the city of Madrid, a museum dedicated to the club’s history, and an integrated e-sports venue.

The inclusion of the e-sports facility, which the video briefly showed as an intimate venue with a large screen and space for two competing teams, is a growing trend among professional soccer teams to align themselves with gaming teams for a part of the growing competitive gaming market.

Construction of the new retractable roof

Real Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, claims the new Santiago Bernabeu will be the “best stadium in the world” when completed in approximately 2022.

GMP Architekten, L35 and Ribas & Ribas will carry out the project. The the club hopes permission will be granted for work to begin in early 2019 and envisages the project will take three and a half years.

About Author

James has been Editor of Stadia since 2018 having worked at magazines and websites around the world for the past 10 years covering everything from technology to motoring and more. He also edits Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International.